two-toed sloth
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A relatively small, fast-moving sloth species characterized by having two long claws on each front foot. This distinguishes it from three-toed sloths. 2. A sloth native to Central and South America, specifically of the genus Choloepus. It has two long claws on each forefoot and three long claws on each hindfoot.
Usage Examples
- The two-toed sloth spends most of its life hanging upside down in the rainforest canopy.
- Compared to its three-toed cousin, the two-toed sloth has a broader diet, including fruits and insects.
- We were lucky to spot a two-toed sloth moving along a branch during our jungle tour.
Advanced Usage
- The term is used in zoological and biological contexts to classify and describe this specific genus of mammal within the order Pilosa.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe someone who is extremely slow or lethargic, drawing on the animal's famous characteristic, though "sloth" alone is more common for this figurative use.
- After lunch, I felt like a two-toed sloth and couldn't get off the couch.
Variants and Related Words
- Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (): One of the two extant species of two-toed sloth.
- Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (): The other extant species of two-toed sloth.
- Unau: An archaic or less common name for the two-toed sloth.
- Three-toed sloth (genus ): The other major genus of sloths, characterized by three claws on all four feet.
Synonyms
- Unau (specific, but less common)
- Choloepus (scientific genus name)
Related Phrases
- No specific phrasal verbs or idioms are directly formed from this compound noun. The word "sloth" itself is the base for figurative language (e.g., "slothful," "the sin of sloth").
Noun
- relatively small fast-moving sloth with two long claws on each front foot
- a sloth of Central America that has two long claws on each forefoot and three long claws on each hindfoot